GAME | Media

The Evil Within 2 – What we learnt at Gamescom 2017

1st September 2017

So, before we delve into the, frankly horrifying, world of The Evil Within 2, a bit of background. I am not good with scary games; I am unabashedly a scaredy-cat, both in real life and with my games. I got to play Mario & Rabbids Kingdom Battle yesterday, and that was fun, colourful and unthreatening – I really enjoyed that.

The team out here with me are very aware of my jumpy tendencies, they’ve seen me play Outlast and Resident Evil. So, when Bethesda offered us a chance to get hands-on with The Evil Within 2, obviously they all thought it would be a great idea to nominate me as the player, cheers guys! Nonetheless, I entered the dark-lit play area with a steely grit and determination not to scream like a little school girl… that lasted all of about 2 minutes.

I’m Not Scared

Well, I am. Truly, truly scared. The Evil Within 2 really is a menacing game from the twisted minds over at Bethesda, I cannot stress that enough. Set after the events of the original, The Evil Within 2 sees us take up the role of Detective Sebastian Castellanos and takes us back to into the STEM device. The world inside here is supposed to present a quaint little village, unassuming and tranquil. I can assure you, it is anything but. Your goal is to rescue your daughter you thought had died from this world. We were introduced to chapters 2 and 3… good, 2 whole chapters to give me nightmares for weeks.

So, let’s talk about what is out there. In short, some of the most morose, repulsive monsters I think I’ve ever seen in a game. The first creature I met was some kind of multiple-headed, female science experiment gone wrong. Oh, and she has a huge buzzsaw for a hand, because it wasn’t terrifying enough as it is. As I was chased down a hallway, my determination not to scream had gone – much to the dismay of the other players around me. I was assured by the Bethesda rep that this was just one of the many disgusting creatures I would meet in The Evil Within 2, oh joy! If this was just a taster of what to expect, then those of you out there who are in to being scared to within an inch of your life are very much in luck with The Evil Within 2.

The overall atmosphere of the game adds in to this already terrifying mixture. For moments, you have nothing but the patter of rain and your footsteps pulsating through the headphones. Then, without warning a crescendo of deep undulating sounds vibrate through your ears – something is going to happen. Quite what it is you never know, but there’s most certainly something out there. Alongside this, the overall art direction of the game gives off a dark, unsettling vibe. It all adds up to a pretty stellar survival horror experience.

You’re Not Alone

Bethesda may have some evil minds working on the game, but they’re not inhumane. You have weapons – with limited ammo, of course. We only got to try out the handgun, which in all honesty did give us much of a feeling of safety. As you progress and scavenge resources you can upgrade your weapons, build new ones and create medical supplies.

Resources are scarce though, so conserving your bullets until you really need them is not only suggested, it’s necessary. Luckily, you are able to take out these disgusting creatures with the use of stealth kills – however it is fairly nerve-wracking slowly creeping up to these monsters.

Something Evil Lurks Within

If you like to get your thrills by being scared to within an inch of your life, then you really do not have to look further than The Evil Within 2. I may be scared of everything, but I can guarantee you I wasn’t the only person in the demonstration zone who let out a squeal or two.

The Evil Within 2 definitely looks like a masterclass in survival horror; so, if you’re that way inclined get ready to experience in on Xbox One, PS4 and PC on October 13th 2017.